Tauranga yachtsman Sam Meech has won a silver medal in the Laser class after a 3rd place finish in today's high stakes medal race at the 2016 Sailing World Cup Hyeres in the South of France.

Consistent sailing through four days of fleet racing saw Sam in a strong position to medal, lying fourth going into the medal race.

Sam Meech in action. Photo: Pedro Martinez/Sailing Energy

He took the silver medal with a solid third on the water

'I'm feeling fantastic, really happy with the result. Obviously, it's coming close to our selection so finishing in front of the other Kiwis hopefully helps,” says Sam.

'It was crazy, the first half of the race was really windy and the second was incredibly light. It was a really strange race in the end.

'I was in a really good position leading at the first mark and I was just trying to win overall. Unfortunately, Phillip, the German guy, is a fantastic sailor and got past me on the second beat and then Andy got me on the run. I was then trying to stay in front of the Aussies at that point.”

Andy Maloney took the medal race win to end the regatta on a high note and improve his place to fifth overall making it two top five results for New Zealand in the Laser class, coached by Mark Howard.

With a second Olympic selection announcement for sailing still pending the Laser class will undoubtedly one of the toughest decisions the selectors have to make.

Asked if he thinks the silver medal is enough for selection, Sam says: 'I guess we'll find out. I've just been trying to sail as well as I can and get the best overall result I can to give me the best chance.”

Germany's Philipp Buhl won the Laser gold.